i'm having all kinds of email issues w/ the preview up date, but after the third time of uninstalling the suite of email, calendar, et cetera app, the messaging app appeared out of nowhere. looks like the messaging app is a part of 8.1.

Most of the time it was kind of annoying and I had a hard time figuring out how to shut it off. At the same time, I did like the idea of it being built in - I don't have a Surface, but I could see it being useful then. Ah well. They must have decided to scrap it rather than fix/improve it.

i'm having all kinds of email issues w/ the preview up date, but after the third time of uninstalling the suite of email, calendar, et cetera app, the messaging app appeared out of nowhere. looks like the messaging app is a part of 8.1.

Doesn't look like it was integrated in Skype...if this app is truly gone, I will be severely disappointed...

the Skype app has the exact same functionality in the modern app and the desktop app. Just link your fb account ir whatever to it and start chatting. Also the modern app when docked to the side looks almost identical to the messaging app except its not purple.

not sure if people saw my post, but after unstalling and re-installing the mail app suite, the messaging app came back. i think there might have been a bug or something, but now i have the messaging app and it's working fine. anyone else get the messaging app back?

not sure if people saw my post, but after unstalling and re-installing the mail app suite, the messaging app came back. i think there might have been a bug or something, but now i have the messaging app and it's working fine. anyone else get the messaging app back?

One thing I noticed was that in the PC settings, it listed the communication apps as only Mail, Calendar, and People. I'm inclined to think this was actually intentional seeing as the Messaging app still only supports the 1/3 width for split screen, so they haven't actually updated it like they have with the other apps.

I was up until 2:30 trying to figure out why I couldn't see my Facebook contacts through the Skype app. Using the desktop version of Skype, I see everyone. On Windows 8 and WP8, I only see Messenger contacts. Do these apps just not have that functionality built in? How stupid. This is despite the fact that when I log in to my account at skype.com, I see that both my Microsoft Account and Facebook account are linked.

I am a true follow and believer in Microsoft, but the whole BS with Skype really bites me sideways.

The People app now has Skype integration. I think this is how they want you to message your contacts. You can even use Skype to send an SMS message (I have a Skype number, so that might be why). I do not see a way to send a Facebook message in the People app, though. Maybe they are anticipating the official Facebook app.

Update: Never mind. I thought it was a new feature, but the People app looks the same.

When you think about it, the Messaging app only allowed two types of account: Facebook and Messenger. If Messenger goes away and they provide an official Facebook app, then there will be no use for the Messenger app.